Description
April 14th, 2012 is a day that will forever be burned in the hearts and minds of family, friends and the men of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, GA.
On this day, 8 years ago, Sgt. Tanner Stone Higgins, 23, was killed by enemy forces during a heavy firefight while conducting combat operations in Logar Province, Afghanistan. He was leading an assault against an enemy compound when he was mortally wounded by small arms fire. Tanner was a team leader assigned to Delta Company at 1/75. He was on his third deployment to Afghanistan in support of the War on Terror. He deployed to Iraq once. Higgins was born Jan. 31, 1989. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 2007.
As you continue reading, you will hear stories from his fellow Rangers and loved ones. How many people do you know that have 19 namesake babies (and one fur baby…ha, our black lab Stone) and a portfolio of all the people who got memorial tattoos?
It’s hard to even comprehend the impact he had on everyone he was ever around, including myself. While visiting my now husband in Savannah, Tanner was the very last person I met before they deployed later that week. We had a brief conversation where you could truly feel that he was listening to every word and connecting with me; shortly after running in and out to see everyone, I remember him yelling out to the guys he had to get back to the truck so he could get home to Shelby, his wife.
Tanner’s brothers, Dillon & Noah, followed in their big brother’s footsteps by enlisting in the US Army. Dillon, now a veteran, was also assigned to the 1st Ranger Battalion; Noah, the youngest brother enlisted in the fall of 2019 and is now in San Antonio, TX training to be a combat medic.
“The evening of April 13th, 2012 started out just like every other night. The mundane daily routine was followed by the nightly hustle-and-bustle. We’d settled on our night’s objective, and the wheels began turning for another successful mission. Planning, complete. Briefing, complete. Loading, complete. Flight, complete. Objective Bostich, begins. I remember walking fast. Sergeant Tanner Higgins was on point.
Tanner was a knowledgeable, and incredibly strong, Ranger hailing from Sulphur Springs, Texas. I had first met Tanner the year prior to this deployment when my Sniper team had been assigned to his Platoon.
From early on while working with 1st Platoon, Delta Company, I could tell this was a special group of Rangers. The strength of the Platoon lies in its team leaders, and this Platoon was full of well-vetted, combat-hardened, leaders. Tanner stood out among the best. He was the true embodiment of what I had always thought a competent Ranger was.
One shot. Sometimes that’s all it takes, and trust me, those bullets don’t discriminate. One shot that changed the lives of so many, for better or worse. I spend every day wondering why things happened the way they did. I’ve written about it enough to fill ten books. You know how many of those questions I’ve answered? None. It wasn’t my time, it was Tanner’s. I’ve often said I’d trade places with him in a heartbeat, but know I couldn’t, he was the type of guy who wouldn’t want that. Tanner was a true believer, I take some comfort in knowing he is in his better place, with his God. I don’t understand much about that, so I leave that up to him, and his beautiful family, who would all agree he is in a happier place.
A dear friend asked me to write this. I wasn’t sure where to start, or how to finish. I’ll end with this, a favorite quote of mine from Rudyard Kipling, he said… “this is a brief life, but in its brevity, it offers us some splendid moments, some meaningful experiences…”. I hope I shuffle off this mortal coil with a heart full of memories, good and bad, and some truly meaningful experiences, otherwise, what is the point of all of this?” READ FULL STORY HERE
I can confidently say that maybe 10 times has this scratched up metal KIA bracelet has not left my arm; unless I’m having surgery or testing done for my cancer, it’s on day and night. I’ll have people on a plane or be getting my hair done, etc, and they’ll notice it and either know what it is or ask what it means; as bittersweet it is to tell the meaning behind it, I love that Tanner gets to touch one more person’s life without even being there. It reminds me every day how lucky I am that Cameron (and of course all our other DCo boys) safely made it back home from their multiple deployments.
The Tanner Higgins Military Memorial Fund developed from the Warrior Run event, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission “To serve military men and women in uniform who serve their country and community.” We are dedicated to raising funds and offering financial and social support beyond what the government offers to men and women of service and their families.
In an effort to protect the health and safety of everyone involved with the event and all of our participants from COVID-19, the April 2020 Warrior Run will be postponed until later in the year. Thank you to all that have registered, donated, and sponsored this year’s Warrior Run!
Whatever your beliefs may be, say a prayer and join us in a toast for his parents and loved ones, his brother Dillon, and for Noah safety and wisdom as he begins his Military Life Journey….AND ONE FOR OUR AIRBORNE RANGER IN THE SKY!
Rangers Lead The Way…ALL THE WAY! <1>
Until next time, lew
{Ranger Wives Lead The Way <1> First Batt Best Batt} #MilLifeJourney
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